A special request...

This recipe was requested by a friend of mine. The book that it comes from is Rachel Ray's Look & Cook.

This is a great dinner idea...and its easy!!

I found this menu idea in a pamphlet from Sam's Club. When I made it I used what I had on hand so I will copy the recipe and in parenthesis I will put what I used.

South-of-the-border chicken and pasta skillet

Prep 30min.
Makes 4 servings

What you need
2 cups medium-size pasta, uncooked (I used 16 oz penne pasta)
2 Tyson* boneless chicken breast halves, about 1 lb (I used 2+lb of boneless pork chops)
(I added some minced onion)
16 oz salsa, about 2 cups
10 oz frozen corn, unthawed, about 2 cups 4 oz PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, (I used what I had left, it was a little more than 4 oz)
1/4 tsp cumin
1 cup KRAFT Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese, divided (I used the Publix brand of block Velveeta cheese, until it seemed creamy)

Make it

Cook pasta as directed on package.

Meanwhile cook and stir chicken ( I used pork) in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 6min or until done. ( I took the pork chops off before they were done and cut them up into small bite-size pieces and set aside. Then I added minced onion to the pan and sauteed. Then I returned the pork to the pan). Add salsa, corn, cream cheese and cumin; simmer on medium-low heat 6 min or until corn is heated through and cream cheese is melted, stirring occasionally.

Drain pasta; add to skillet with half the shredded cheese. (my frying pan isn't that big so I put the meat and sauce in the big pot and I used the block Velveeta-like cheese). Simmer 3 min or until heated through. Top with remaining shredded cheese; cover. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min or until cheese is melted. (I didn't use additional cheese).

Then I let my kids try it and tell me they didn't like it. My kids are anti-anything with too much flavor...at least the first time they eat it...or until they get really, really hungry. Personally I think it was delicious. I had two bowls full. You try it. Tell me what you think.

Ham and Potato Bake

2 pound frozen hashbrowns (or dice 2lb of potatoes)
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pint sour cream
2 cups shredded cheese
1 pound diced ham

Directions:

1) mix all ingredients
2) press into 9x13 inch pan
3) bake 350 degrees for 1&1/2 hours

How to get rid of ants

I had ants on my counters. No matter how hard I tried there were ants every day. I put down chemicals, ant baits and all kinds of things. Nothing worked. Until....this appeared...

Now there's not a single ant on my counter. This spider is my friend.

chicken pasta

This recipe takes a little more time, but you can make it ahead of time and the kids can reheat it in the microwave.

ingredients:
olive oil, 3 Tbsp
1 sliced cup of mushrooms
1/4 of a green pepper
1/4 of a red pepper
boneless, skinless chicken breast, 2 halves
1 lb spaghetti noodles

4 small tomatoes, about 2 cups chopped

dash of crushed red pepper

dash of onion and herb seasoning
dash of black pepper
1 cup of spaghetti sauce

Directions:
1)set water to boil for noodles
2) slice mushrooms and saute in 1 Tbsp olive oil in frying pan. Then remove from pan and set on dish for later
3) dice 1/4 of a green pepper and 1/4 of a red pepper.
4) saute peppers in 1 Tbsp  olive oil, stirring
5) cut tomatoes into small chunks and add to pan, stirring
6) cut chicken into bite size pieces, add to pan with peppers and tomato, stirring. Add crushed red pepper and onion and herb seasoning and black pepper, to taste. Reduce heat and continue cooking.
7) drain noodles and add a Tbsp of olive oil to noodles, mix.
8) add chicken mixture and 1 cup of spaghetti sauce to noodles and stir.

9) best served hot, but can be put away for a later meal.

For the young 'uns

This recipe is so easy kids new to cooking can make this. (in fact, this recipe was requested by my own kids)

Makes: 1 serving
Time: less than 5 min

What you will need:
1 microwave
1 sheet of paper towel
1 fork
1 microwavable bowl
1 hot pad
2 egg
1 wheat bagel
1 slice of cheese

Directions:

1) in the microwable bowl crack open the two eggs, no shells in bowl, please. Throw egg shells in trash can.
2) with fork beat the eggs, now rinse the fork for use again
3) cover bowl of eggs with paper towel
4) microwave the bowl of eggs for two min.
5) using the hot pad remove the bowl. CONTENTS WILL BE HOT!
6) remove paper towel and lay out on counter sitting the bagel on it.
7) with the fork loosen eggs from the side of the bowl. Move eggs onto bagel using fork or sliding the egg out of bowl.
8) unwrap cheese slice and lay ontop the egg, top with other half of bagel. Throw cheese wrapper in garbage can.
9) carefully pick up sandwich on the paper towel and sit in microwave. Microwave sandwich for 30 seconds, or until cheese is melted.
10) wash bowl and fork and dry and put away where you got them.

When its this hot...

...the best place to be...is in the water.

Pizza Bagels

Makes 10 halves, or 5 servings
Ready in under half hour, including prep time

1 pkg of 5 Wheat bagels
1 cup Spagetti sauce
2 cup Shredded cheese
1/2 pkg Pepperoni slices
1 cup Bacon bits
4 slices Mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/2 can Canned Mushrooms, sliced
3 slices Sliced ham

Directions
1- preheat oven to medium-high heat
2- seperate bagel halves and place on baking stone
3- put bagels in oven and toast until slightly brown
4- remove bagels and spoon spaghetti sauce over bagels.
5- sprinkle shredded cheese over the sauced bagels
6- place bacon bits, ham pieces, and pepperoni slices on bagel halves.
7- top with sliced mozzarella and bake until hot and cheese is melted. This should only take a couple minutes.